Hungary Water is a very old tonic preparation, sometimes said to be a perfume. The early recipes were made from rosemary alone so might not have been what we now think of as a desirable perfume fragrance-wise -- but it was an early herbal alcohol, and by that gains its status.
Hungary Water was originally used as a medicinal drink and a rub. Later versions had the fragrance improved with more floral additions, and it was then that it began to be employed as a perfume for fun. It also remained popular as a wash, astringent and tonic into the 20th century. It was reputed to preserve youth and vigor in all those who might use it.
The original recipes for Hungary Water required distilling the fresh rosemary and alcohol together, but even by the time of Nicholas Culpeper, versions were being made by simply adding rosemary oil to aqua vitae. Some recipes for this allegedly miraculous mixture that date from the Gibson Girl days are as follow:
Rosemary, 3 parts.
Lavender, 1 part.
Diluted alcohol, 6 parts.
Water, 12 parts.
Mix, and distill 3/4.
Hungary Water.
Grape spirit (60 over proof) 1 gallon.
Otto of Hungarian rosemary, 2 ounces.
Otto of lemon peel, 1 ounce.
Otto of balm (melissa) 1 ounce.
Otto of mint (m. viridis) 1/2 dram.
Esprit de rose (triple) 1 pint.
Extract of orange flower, 1 pint.
Esprit de rose, triple:
Rectified alcohol, 1 gallon.
Otto of rose, 3 ounces.
Royal Hungary Water.
Spirit lavender, 20.
Spirit sage, 20.
Spirit rosemary, 60.
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